Metal building construction



Jan. 8, 1935. D. E. ROSS METAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed June 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l C 3 W M f ,7 b W I 5 6 3 w I u, 2 62 4 4 1m b W o q I Hi I H HQ 5 M B r u up w 4 dam/M 4 D. E. ROSS METAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Jan. 8, 1935.

Filed June 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r lllllll lpllll gwwzntoc Patented Jan. 8, 1935 I t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,988,980 METAL BUILDING CQNSTBUCTION David E.. Ross, Lafayette, Ind., assignor to Rostone, Incorporated, Lafayette, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 12, 1933, Serial No. 675,485 3 Claims. (01. 189-36) This invention relates to metal building contions I obtain strong rigid lasting connections lie-l struction; and has particular reference to the tween structural shapes of thin cross section. method of and means for fastening metal shapes The accompanying drawings illustrate diatogether. The invention is particularly designed grammatically portions of the metallic framing for use in connecting structural metal. shapes for of a building in which the major shapes are con- 5 buildings especially where such shapes are of comnected by my novel method and means, and I paratively light gauge material. The principal will explain the invention in detail with reference object of the invention is to provide connections to the said drawings, and summarize in the claims whereby shearing or tearing of the thin metal the essential features of theinvention and novel surfaces under strain is prevented. Another obfeatures of construction and combinations of l ject is to increase the bearing surfaces of thin parts for which protection is desired. metal shapes relative one to the other and also In said draw'ings: relative to the fastening bolts or rivets at the Fig. 1 is a view of a portion of the metal frampoints of connection between the shapes, at which ing of a building, the'members thereof being conpoints they are subjected to the greatest tearing nected by my novel means. Fig. 2 is a side view 15 and shearing strains. of Fig. 1, looking from the left. Fig. 3 is a partly Where metal shapes or such as plates or webs sectional view of Fig. 1, looking from the right. of beams are-united by bolts or rivets in the ,ordi- Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 44,

nary manner the extent of contact surface of the Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view shape in contact with the bolt or rivet passing through one of the novel connections, and Fig. 6 20 therethrough is very small, being only the thickis an enlarged detail side view of one of the conness of the shape at the point of connection, and nections. because of the low bearing valueof such a con- As shown in Figs. 1 to 3 the metal framing nection the bolt or rivet opening in the shape is comprises a stud 1, floor beam 2, ceiling beam 3,

liable to become elongated or tear under the and rafters 4. These are preferably formed. of I- 25 stress. To overcome this and to enhance the beams of relatively light gauge metal as combearing surfaces at the point of fastening, I dispared with that ordinarily employed. The stud 1 tort the metal of the shapes around the bolt or may have its side flanges cut from the web near rivetrholes and draw out the metal around such its lower end and the ends of the web and flanges holes in such manner as to form protruding bent as shown at 1a and resting on a foundation 30 frustums of hollow cones around such holes, at the channel bar 10, and secured thereto by a bolt or points where the shapes are to be connected. The rivet B in the usual manner.

conical protuberances around the holes in the A reinfoi'cing member 241, preferably formed of meeting surfaces of the shapes arev so formed a short length of a U-bar, is fitted between the 5 that they will flt one within the other and closely stud flanges at the point where the floor beam 2 stack or nest axially one within the other. A bolt is to be attached to the stud. The outer flanges or rivet is then passed through these nested proof the member 2a and stud 1 may be connected I tuberances and secured to-ibind them nrmlygtobytbolts or rivets Bzi'n the usual manner. At the gether axially. To enhance the binding effect I inner side of stud 1 adjacent the member 2a is a preferably employ opposed washers at oppositev bracket 2t, preferably formed of a short length 40 ends ,of the nest ofprotuberances, one washer of a T-bar having its flange 2b cut away so that preferably having a conical projection adapted the ends 20 of its base flange project beyond the to flt within the concave base of the nested cones part 2b. The inner flanges of the member 2a and and the other preferably having a concavity stud 1 and the base flange 2c of bracket 21. are

adapted to flt over the projecting endof the nest united as indicated at C by my novel method and 45 of cones, so that when the bolt or rivet is entered connection hereinafter described. The bracket through these washers and the nest of cones and 2t is preferably also secured to the stud by similar fastened it will bind the stack of cones axially connections C.

" together. On the upper end of the stud is supported a 9 The aforesaid method of and means for conchannel member 11, which is fastened by a bolt necting the shapes greatly increases the extent or" rivet B to the inturned web and flanges of of surface contact of the shapes with each other the upper end of the stud, as shown at 1b. The and with the bolt or rivet at the connecting points end of the ceiling beam 3 rests upon the channel and the fastening bolt or rivet is put under tenmember 11, and on said member at opposite sides 5-, sion instead of shear. By means of such connecof. the ceiling beam are L-shaped brackets 5, the

lower ends of which are fastened to the channel by bolts or rivets B of the usual type.

The upstanding parts of brackets 5 are secured to the web of the ceiling beam 3 by my novel connections C as hereinafter described. The outer end of the ceiling beam is beveled, as indicated at 3a in Fig. 1, so that the web of the rafter beam 4 can extend thereover as indicated in Fig. 1, and pass between the brackets 5, and be secured thereto by my novel connections C, as hereinafter described.

The inner flange of -the rafter beam 4 is sheared from the web thereof and turned at an angle thereto, as shown at 4a in Fig. 1, so as to overlie the upper flange of the ceiling beam 3 and these flanges are united at this point by bolts or fastenings B of ordinary construction.

The upperv ends of the oppositely inclined rafters 4 are beveled and abut as shown in Fig. 1, and plate members 4c are placed on opposite sides of the webs of the rafters at this point and these plates are secured to each other and to the webs of the rafters by my novel connections C, hereinafter described.

The several connections C hereinabove referred to are of the type illustrated more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6. In these figures a, b, 0 represent thin plate-like surfaces of the metal shapes, and for instance, may be the inner flange of the reinforcing member 2a, the inner flange of the stud 1a, and the base of the bracket 2; or the upstanding portions of brackets 5 and their intermediate web of beam 3 or rafter 4; or opposed plates 40 and intermediate webs of the rafter beams. At the points where the respective shapes are perforated for the passage of connecting bolts or rivets the metal is pressed to form a protuberance resembling a frustum of a cone surrounding the bolt opening as indicated at a, b, c in Fig. 5.,

The fastening bolt -or nut g extends axially through the nest of cones and is'closely fitte therein and binds them together axially.

Preferably at the projecting end of this nest of cones is placed a washer e having a concavity e which fits the convex end of the nest of conical protuberances (the protuberance a of the adjacent plate a) and at the opposite end 9 of the nest of cones is a washer I having a conical projection 1" which fits into the concave-end of the nest of conical protuberances. The bolt or rivet g is entered through the washers and plates and secured by a nut 9', thus clamping the conical protuberances and plates firmly between the washers. I

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown three thicknesses of metal united, but obviously two, four or more thicknesses of metal could be connected by my method and means with the advantages hereinabovenoted; The several connections indicated atc in Figs.'1 to 4 0i the'drawings are each of the character shown in Fig. 5; and those skilled in the art will readily understand the construction from the foregoing description and further detailed explanation of the several connections indicated at C in Figs. 1-4 is unnecessary.

It will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 5

that this connection has great advantages over.

the ordinary method of bolting plates together. The conical protuberances greatly increase the extent of contact surface between the shapes and also of the shapes with the bolt; and the strength of the connection is greatly enhanced by the tension of the bolt; and by contact of the nested conical surfaces of the protuberances with the conical surfaces of the washers. By such connections the liability of thin metal plates to tear at the bolt openings or to shear the bolt, is greatly lessened; and the strength of the connection therebetween is greatly increased. While I have described bolts as used in the novel connections obviously rivets could be employed in place of the bolts.

I claim:

1. Means for connecting metal shapes, comprising a plurality of metal shapes having lapping portions provided with preformed conical protuberances, the conical protuberances, of the shapes fitting one within the other, a washer having a convex portion entered within the base of the nested protuberances, a second washer having a convex portion fitted over the apex of the nested protuberances, said protuberances and washers having axial openings; and a securing member extending through the axial openings in the nested washers and protuberances.

2. In combination, a plurality of metal shapes having lapping portions provided with preformed conical protuberances, the conical protuberances of the shapes fitting one within the other when the shapes are assembled, a washer having a convex portion entered within the base of the nested protuberances, a second washer having a convex portion adapted to receive the apex of the nested protuberances, said protuberances and washers having axial perforations; and a securing bolt extending through the perforations in the washers and nested protuberances.

3. In combination, a plurality of metal shapes having lapping portions provided with perforated preformed conical protuberances, the conical protuberances of the shapes fitting one within the other when the shapes are assembled, a washer having a convex portion entered within the base of the nested protuberances, a second washer having a convex portion to receive the apex of the nested protuberances, a square shouldered 'boltextending axially throughthe washers and DAVID E. ROSS. 

